New Tech Detects Deadly Whale, Dolphin Diseases

Portable unit delivers results in about an hour, aiding decision-making during mass stranding events

Mar. 31, 2026 at 6:06am

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A highly structured abstract painting featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise botanical spirals in earthy tones of green, blue, and brown, conceptually representing the advanced scientific tools used to detect and monitor deadly diseases in cetaceans.A new portable diagnostic tool empowers researchers to rapidly detect deadly diseases in whales and dolphins, even in remote ocean environments, helping to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems.Honolulu Today

Researchers at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa have developed a breakthrough in marine mammal health surveillance that can now detect deadly diseases in whales and dolphins in oceans, beaches and remote locations. The portable unit delivers results in about an hour, leading to faster decision-making during mass stranding events.

Why it matters

Cetacean Morbillivirus (CeMV) has caused mass deaths of thousands of marine animals globally. Traditionally, detecting such pathogens required sending samples to specialized laboratories, often resulting in delays of weeks to months. This new portable technology can help detect outbreaks early and potentially prevent larger epidemics.

The details

The UH Health and Stranding Lab at the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR) worked together with international researchers to validate a portable, field-deployable molecular diagnostic tool for Cetacean Morbillivirus (CeMV). The system uses high-speed testing to provide rapid, on-site results and proved effective across multiple divergent strains from Hawai'i, Europe and Brazil, even in archived tissues up to 28 years old.

  • The study was published in Transboundary and Emerging Diseases in 2026.

The players

University of Hawai'i at Mānoa

A public research university located in Honolulu, Hawai'i, and the flagship campus of the University of Hawai'i system.

Kristi West

Director of the UH Health and Stranding Lab at the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR).

Wei-Cheng Yang

Professor at National Taiwan University's Veterinary School who collaborated with UH researchers.

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What they’re saying

“This is the first application of a field-deployable system for rapid testing for whales and dolphins. It breaks down barriers to detection because it can be used remotely, even without a traditional lab nearby.”

— Kristi West, Director, UH Health and Stranding Lab

“We want to train others so we can increase what we know about disease in many other areas of the world.”

— Kristi West, Director, UH Health and Stranding Lab

What’s next

The project is supported by U.S. Pacific Fleet Environmental Readiness Division and a joint zoonotic disease grant with the state of Hawai'i's Department of Land and Natural Resources. UH researchers plan to continue collaborating with partners from Taiwan, the Philippines, Spain, and Brazil to further develop and deploy this technology globally.

The takeaway

This new portable diagnostic tool represents a significant advancement in marine mammal health surveillance, enabling faster detection and response to deadly diseases like Cetacean Morbillivirus. By empowering researchers and responders to act quickly, even in remote locations, this technology has the potential to save the lives of whales, dolphins, and other marine animals.